Gareth + Kirsty

We are a couple from Australia who love life most when on the road travelling. We met one afternoon in Miraflores, Peru. Over those first few weeks together we hatched a dream to drive ourselves across Africa ‘one day’ and began sketching a 4WD design in one of our trusty Moleskin notebooks.

Three years later, after traveling a good whack of the World together (including 8 weeks on a group overlanding truck from Kenya to Cape Town), we decided to make those early dreams a reality.

After 6 months of hunting down the right vehicle we spotted an old boy for sale who had been meticulously cared for. As soon as we test drove him we just knew he was the one. We looked at each other with excited eyes and said ‘this is it!’. And so, after 21 years of being adored by one owner, a 1989 HJ75RV Toyota Troop Carrier was ours to drive across the World in.

ABOUT : GARETH

I’m a commercial Plumber from Sydney, who comes from a family of 9. My family calls me Carrot. My Mum calls me Wombat. I call her Walnut. I’m also known as G, Gaz, Gary, Gazza and G Banger. You can call me late for dinner but just don’t call me Susan.

This blogging/ website thing is new to me but I am hoping to use it as a place where we can possibly inspire other people to choose their life, and to write their own stories. I am excited to make it work and share our experiences along the way. Enjoy.

WHY ARE YOU HITTING THE ROAD?

I have a desire to see as much of this Earth as I can. If I didn’t have to work to pay my bills, then I would travel forever. I love the sense of freedom it gives you. The food, people and different cultures you experience while traveling really gets me going.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

I am looking forward to realising a dream and sharing it with the Bird I love. I am looking forward to stripping things right back and ridding myself of the material items that have constipated my life over the years. I have heard such great things about Tasmania and the West Coast of Australia – it’s going to be unreal. I am also itching to get back to Africa. I don’t know what it is about the place. It just seems to draw you in.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS?

I will miss a LOT I reckon. My Mum (Walnut) & family the most. I will also miss our dog Boss. The little fella always knows how to put a smile on my face. I know I’ll be thinking of the fresh food, hot showers and my comfy bed. Although I am sure what we are about to experience will ease those first World problems.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

Wow! I have been lucky enough to have had many, but Climbing Mt Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo was up there. It’s not a crazy Mountain to climb but I shed a tear of emotion at the summit and will always remember that. A close second (if not first) would be rafting down the mighty Zambezi River. What a thrill.

Hitting the road is about LIVING life. The standard 9-to-5 suburban drill is not my bag. Hitting the road as Aussie Overlanders sees the creation of something new with an ethos I am passionate about and believe in. There comes moments in life where you can actively choose to create and live the life of your (craziest) dreams. Alternatively, you can let the dreams fall by the way side and get content with what comes your way. Aussie Overlanders is about flicking that switch ON, giving rise to dreams, doing the impossible and LIVING a life that rocks.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Simple, minimal living. Being inspired by people + places. Potentially finding a new place to call home. Falling in sync with the rise + fall of the sun. Watching the moon wax + wane month by month. Making a positive difference.

I’m really looking forward to driving ourselves to Ayers Rock, camping along the turquoise beaches of Western Australia, Elephant haven Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, and slurping an icy cold mojito down by Camps Bay with our good South African friends.

In 2008 I drove from Cape Town to Rwanda. I loved it and promised myself I would return to cross Africa, do it in my own vehicle and (hopefully) do it with a man I was head over heels in love with {enter G!} . In 2009/10 G + I travelled Kenya to Cape Town in a group truck. This ignited the fire evermore to hit the road.